Among the arachnids, Acari are the only group, which feeds on plants. Plant-feeding mites play an important role as agricultural pests of fruits, vegetables, forage crops, ornamentals and other agricultural crops. The damage caused by many species is still innocuous and often mistaken. Around 7,000 species of plant-feeding or phytophagous mites are known worldwide which occur in five families namely Tetranychidae, Tenuipalpidae, Tarsonemidae, Eriophyidae and Tuckerillidae. In India, a total of 660 mite species are known, out of which 169 (17 as major and 30 as minor pests) are represented by phytophagous mites.
About Family Tenuipalpidae
Information Not Available